A soldier accused of shooting his wife to death in Stung Treng City on Saturday was arrested by military police Monday in Mondolkiri province, where he had fled after committing the crime, military police said.
According to Sy Sameth, the chief of the penal bureau of the Stung Treng provincial military police, the suspect, To Michel, 27, worked as a soldier in Kompong Cham, driving a car for his uncle, a military officer whom Mr. Sameth refused to name.
“Michel stole a handgun belonging to his uncle, who lived with him in Kompong Cham province, in order to shoot and kill his ex-wife,” he said.
“Michel will be sent to the Stung Treng Provincial Court this afternoon,” he added.
The soldier is accused of walking up to his ex-wife, market vendor Rasmey Sreikhuoch, as she slept in a hammock in her market stall on Saturday and shooting her five times.
Police believe the suspect, who had been trying to reconcile with his wife, became enraged when she recently posted another man’s photograph on her Facebook page.